Self-sustaining scaffold



Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f sELF-sUsTArNIuGsonFFoLn 1 Robert i Squire, Los Angeles, Calif. Ap lication. Mama 1942;; Serial No. 27,250

The present invention relates to scaffolds particularly useful in the performance of buildings and other structures.

Anv object of the invention is to provide an improved scaffold, which is of, simple, safe and. sturdyconstruction, and which can be'erected or dismantled with ease ina minimum oftime.

Another object of the invention is to" provide a scafiold structure, which can be made of sections' of substantially uniform or standard size, permitting the structure to be erected to various heights or lengths without the necessity for altering or modifying the individual sections or the components of. each section.

Aiurther objectof the invention is, to provide scaffold structure whichcanbe erected to the desired height by readily superimposing and clamping scalfold sections to one another.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects whichmay be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a forminwhich it is embodied, which is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of, the presentspecification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in alimitingsense,.sincethe scope of theinvention is best defined, by the appended claims- .1 .wl 11. 1., Referring to the drawings? i Figure 1 is.a..partial1isometricyiewof superimposed scaffold sections clamped to one arr-.- heri Big. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary 61161 918.- vation, looking in the directionof the arrow 2 on: 1, with a part in section; and

Sis an enlarged cross-section, takenalong theline lie-.3, on Fig. 2. U

fIfhe scaffold structure disclosed in theidrawings includes a plurality of end sections H], which may be superimposed upon one another to reach a desired height, and which may also work upon z ci i s. (011364-41 =*rial, 'having the desired combined width to enf be placed longitudinally at spaced intervals from one another, to obtain a scaffold structure of any desired length. Each end section includes a pair of spaced uprights or vertical studs H, such as wooden 2 x 4s or 4 x ls, which are held in spaced relation by a horizontal cross structure l2. The structure I 2 includes a horizontal member 13 having ends welded to oppositely directly vertical clamp members 14, of similar channel cross-section, which are adapted to embrace the inner portions of the uprights I l. The cross structure l2 may be further strengthened by diagonal braces l5 suitably secured, as by welding, to the horizontal cross member l3 and to the channel members l4.

Each; end of the cross structure 12 is rigidly,

secured to the uprights H by disposing another. vertical: clamp member l6, of generally channel .crossesection, on the other side of the uprights,

andrfacing. the channel member I4 welded. to.

the cross member |;31and.to the diagonal brace A5. The opposed channel members l4, l6 em bracethe. upper end of the upright. I I, and have abolt l'l extendingcthrough the webs "l8 of the IB, which, upon being,

vertical channels I 4, tightened, serves to clamp the upright ll, securely to the horizontal structure l2;

By thus 1 clamping each horizontal structure I2 to the, spaced vertical uprights H, a scaffold section I is formed.

Another scaffold section or end is madejiin the samefashion, and maybe spaced longitudinally' from thesection just. described. Of.

course, it ispreferrecl that the cross structures.

l2 be of equal length, in. order to provide a uniformwspacing between theuprights H at each: section of'the scaffold. The end sections In may; be attached to one another in longitudinally.

spaced relation by use offa longitudinal member: [f wood, or any other suitable material, that is nailed, bolted or otherwise suitably securedlto i thelongitudinally spaced uprights II at one or: both sides ofthe scaffold structure. If desired,

the outerchannel iron members 16 may besecured to one another by ahorizontal, longitudinalba-nflfl, which-may be-in the form of an theouter sidesl8 ofthe channel iron l6.

angle iron whose vertical flange 2| is welded to A platform 22 maybe placed upon and across the cross bars I 3, and may be constituted'by several planks of woodyor othersuitable mateable aworkmanto stand safely elevated above the ground, or other support.

Other scaffold sections may be superimposed upon the lower section. The upper vertical studs Ila are of essentially the same uniform length and size as the lower studs l I, and may be inserted between the opposed channel irons 14, I6 to an extent in which their lower ends llb are adjacent the clamp bolt l'l. Tightening of the bolt I! will not only serve to secure the transverse structure I2 to the lower uprights II, but also to the lower ends of the upper uprights Ila.

As disclosed in the drawings, four vertical uprights I la have been clamped to the four corners of the lower scaffold structure. Another set of transverse members 12a and channel iron clamps Ma, 56a may be placed on the upper end of the vertical studs or uprights Ha, which have been secured in the lower clamps 14, I6, in the same fashion as the lower clamps have been attached to the uprights H therebelow. Vertical studs llb may be secured in these upper clamps Ma, 16a. A scaffold structure can be built up in this manner by superimposing uprights ll, Ila, llb, etc., one uponthe other, securing the adjacent upper and lower ends of the uprights to the intervening clamps l4, [6; Ma, Ilia; etc., with the transverse members 12, l2a, etc, holding the vertical upright structure in appropriate spaced relation. I As stated above, the vertical studs I 1, Ha, llb

between the flanges 22 of each channel iron element l4, [6, Ma, lBa prefer-ably being only slightly greater than the thickness or width of the stud which they embrace. The cross-section of the studs will, of course, depend upon the loads that they are to carry. As an example, the uprights ll, Ha, Hb may be made of 2" x 4" or 4 X 4 wood studs, with the adjacent ends of the studs securely clamped by appropriately tightening the bolts l7, Ha, etc. Such tightening creates sufficient friction. between the studs and the channel iron members as to prevent slipping therebetween. That is to say, the lower ends of the upper studs need not necessarily rest upon the clamp bolt ll, the vertical load being transmitted from an upper stud I la through the channel iron clamp members l4, [6 to the lower It is apparent" that a scaffold structure has been providedwhich can be readily assembled to any desired height, simply by-superimposing vertic'al studs upon one another, with the adjacent ends of thestuds effectively secured to one another by means of the channel iron clamps. In addition, the scaffold may be made of any desired length merely by spacing the end supports l appropriately with respect to each other, and securing-longitudinal members IE), or 20, or both to the studs or vertical uprights. 'The structure is simple and sturdy, and possessesa high degree of safety. g i

It can be dismantled very readily, and then reassembled whenever and wherever desired.

I claim:

,1. In a scaffold structure: a series of spaced pairs of uprights forming rectangularly arranged lower vertical posts; a second series of spaced pairs of uprights forming rectangularly arranged upper vertical posts; said upper posts being adapted to be superposed on said lower posts respectively; an elongate brace member between each of said pair of uprights; said brace members each having integrally formed inner clamp members at each end thereof, said inner clamp members having post engaging surfaces contacting aligned lateral surfaces of said superposed posts respectively; outer clamp members cooperating with each of said inner clamp members respectively, said outer clamp members having post engaging surfaces contacting the opposite aligned lateral surfaces of said superposed posts respectively; and means extending through said inner and outer clamp members and interposed between the cooperating ends of said superposed posts for spacing said upper and lower posts and for clamping said posts between said clamp members.

' 2. In a scaffold structure: a series'of spaced pairs of uprights forming rectangularly arranged lower vertical posts; a second series of spaced pairs of uprights forming rectangularly arranged upper vertical posts; said upper posts being adapted to be superposed on said lower posts respectively; an elongate brace member between each of said pair of uprights; said bracemembers each having integrally formed inner clamp members at each end thereof, said inner clamp members having post engaging surfaces contacting aligned lateral surfaces of said superposed posts respectively; outer clamp members cooperating with each of said inner clamp members respectively, said outer clamp members having post engaging surfaces contacting the opposite aligned lateral surfaces of said superposed posts respectively; means extending through said inner and outer clamp members and interposed between the cooperating ends of said superposed posts for spacing said upper and lower posts and for clamping said posts between said clamp members; and means secured to saidouter clamps of adjacent pairs of uprights for holding said pair of uprights in spaced relationship.

, ROBERT K. SQUIRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,060,914 Lillow May 6, 1913 1,551,082 Baxter Aug; 25, 1925 1,582,402 Honan Apr. 27, 1926 1,828,487 Booser Oct. 20, 1931" 2,037,980 I-Ieartz I Apr. 21, 1936 2,255,270 Pimm :Sept. 9, 1941 2,468,186 Du Perret Apr. 26, 1949 

